Head of the General Directorate of Religious Affairs Arao Litsuri
handed over the decision to a representative of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
It will be the first Vietnamese Buddhism Centre in Africa, contributing to introducing Vietnam’s humanitarian ideals and dogmas of Buddhism to African friends.
Speaking at the event, Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Secretary General of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that it was a great event, marking the first presence of Vietnamese Buddhism in Africa.
He highly appreciated the Mozambican Government's authorization for the first Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Mozambique. He expressed his hope that the association would create a strong bond among the overseas Vietnamese community in Mozambique; preserving the national identity and cultural traditions of Vietnam; instructing Buddhists to study Buddhism, practise spirituality, participate in social works to strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.
The Venerable said that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha desires to develop the Vietnamese Buddhist Centre for the African region. The Vietnamese Buddhist Association has also bought a land area of over 4 hectares to build a Vietnam Cultural Centre, including a pagoda of Vietnamese Buddhism.
On behalf of the Government of Mozambique, Head of the General Directorate of Religious Affairs Arao Litsuri handed over the decision of the Minister of Justice, Constitution and Religion on establishment of the association to a representative of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
In his speech, he expressed his admiration for the good cultural values of Vietnamese Buddhism; desiring Buddhists to contribute to spreading the humane, good-direction and peaceful culture of the Vietnamese community to Mozambican people and contribute to the charitable work and poverty alleviation in the country.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Vu Hong Nam sent a letter to congratulate the association in Mozambique and hoped that the association would become a common house to help overseas Vietnamese to live a good life, contributing to bringing peace and prosperity to the people of the two countries and to be a bridge to consolidate and strengthen the friendly relationship between the two countries.
Besides, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha presented Mozambique’s Ministry of Education a gift of 300 briefcases for poor students from Tete province, Central Mozambique.
The Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Mozambique was launched under Decision 275/QD/HDTS on October 11th, 2017 by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council and approval of the government of Mozambique in order to meet the needs and aspirations of Buddhists living, studying and working in Mozambique./.